Third seed Sania Mirza sailed into the second round of the $175,000 WTA Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open with a straight set win against unseeded American Abigail Spears on Monday.

Spears tried her best against the Indian but Sania never allowed her any leeway and cruised to a comprehensive 6-4, 6-3 win.

Sania’s serve stood her in good stead as she won 69 per cent of her first serve points.
Getting into her stride

In both the sets, the Hyderabadi had to shrug off her inertia but once she settled into her strides, there was no looking back.

Spears raced to a 3-0 lead in the first set before Sania hit back with vengeance and won six of the next seven games to pocket the set.

In the second set as well, Sania was a break down before she stepped on gas and swept aside her opponent.

The world No. 38 is on the same end of the bracket as top-seeded Russian Anna Chakvetadze, but would not face former champion Patty Schnyder until the final.

Made to work hard

At Los Angeles, Former World No. 1 Marat Safin battled past Australia’s Chris Guccione 6-3, 6-7, 7-6(2) in the opening round of the ATP Countrywide Classic on Monday.

Third seed Safin, who sacked his long-time coach Alexander Volkov last week after a run of poor results, clinched the match after the pair had duelled for just over two hours.

Playing in his first tournament since losing to Roger Federer in the third round of Wimbledon last month, Safin unleashed eight aces against his left-handed opponent, four of them in the third set.